Origins & Early Life

Red Cloud (Lakota: Maȟpíya Lúta; c. 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1865 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western territories. He led the Lakota to victory over the United States during Red Cloud's War, establishing the Lakota as the only nation to defeat the United States on American soil.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The largest action of the war was the 1866 Fetterman Fight, with 81 US soldiers killed; it was the worst military defeat suffered by the US Army on the Great Plains until the Battle of the Little Bighorn 10 years later. After signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), Red Cloud led his people in the transition to reservation life. Some of his opponents mistakenly thought of him as the overall leader of the Sioux groups (Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota), but the large tribe had several major divisions and was highly decentralized. Bands among the Oglala and other divisions operated independently, though some individual leaders were renowned as warriors and highly respected as leaders, such as Red Cloud. Red Cloud was born close to the forks of the Platte River, near the modern-day...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Charles Hermite — Contemporary (Born in 1822) (1822): Pioneering French mathematician known for work in analysis and number theory.
• E. T. A. Hoffmann — Contemporary (Died in 1822) (1822): Pioneering German Romantic author of gothic horror, fantasy, and crime fiction.
• Francis Galton — Contemporary (Born in 1822) (1822): Polymath, pioneer of eugenics, and founder of psychometrics and behavioral genetics.
• Albert R. Broccoli — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Pioneering American film producer, best known for developing the James Bond franchise.
• Barry Goldwater — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Conservative Senator and Presidential Nominee who championed modern American conservatism.
• Burl Ives — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Iconic American folk singer, actor, and voice artist known for Christmas music.
• Aleister Crowley — Shared historical date (12-01 · Died) (1947): Founder of Thelema, a major occultist, poet, and ceremonial magician.
• Alfred Thayer Mahan — Shared historical date (12-01 · Died) (1914): Pioneering theorist of sea power, shaping global naval strategy for over a century.
• Ada Lovelace — Shared historical date (12-10 · Born) (1815): Pioneering mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer.
• Alfred Nobel — Shared historical date (12-10 · Died) (1896): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
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